Double hinged latched closure



1957 D. J. KETTLEBOROUGH 2,816,684

DOUBLE HINGED LATCHED CLOSURE Filed June 9, 1955 INVENTOR. DonaldJlfettle born 11 5A wznziw A TTUR/VE Y United rates Patent DOUBLE HINGEDLATCHED CLOSURE Donald J. Kettleborough, Mendota, 111., assignor to theUnited States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyApplication June 9, 1955, Serial No. 514,401

11 Claims. (Cl. 220-57) My invention relates to closures for containersand more particularly to closures of the type known as cam closureswherein a closure cap or a plug is hinged to the container and is forcedinto a seated position closing a container opening by cam meansoperatively associated with the closure. Such devices are particularlydesirable in hand manipulated dispensing cans because such closures canbe quickly opened and closed without the use of tools.

To be economical, such closures are preferably formed from sheet metaland typical examples of such closures are found in the U. S. Patents toGrice No. 2,365,695, dated December 26, 1944; Johnson No. 2,329,716,dated September 21, 1943; or Gardes, No. 2,364,206, dated December 5,1944. In these and like forms of closures, sheet metal cams engage sheetmetal cam lugs. Both the cams and lugs are exposed in use and hencesusceptible to damage by being accidentally bent. Even a slight bendingin the wrong direction is suflicient to prevent proper seating or theclosure whereby leakage will occur. This is particularly dangerous andobjectionable when the containers are filled with volatile and/ orflammable liquids such as motor fuels.

A further objection to such prior art devices is that the cam lever,being necessarily exposed, can sometimes be actuated accidentallyparticularly after the parts become worn. To overcome this evil,attempts have been made, as in the Grice patent supra, to secure the camlever in the seated position by an exposed spring latch which itself issusceptible of accidental actuation as an incident to rough handling.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providean improved cam-type closure of the class described. p

A further objectis to provide an improved closure of the class describedwherein the cam means is formed,

arranged and located to be protected against accidental distortion or.damage.

A further object is to provide independently of or in combination with acam closure of the class described, an' improved latch for securing theclosure closed and/ or improved means for protecting such latch fromaccidental actuation or damage.

A further object is to provide a cam closure for a container openingwherein a closure is hinged to the container .at one side of the openingand has a free end Which extends beyond the other side of said opening,and cam actuating means hinged to said closure in the region of saidfree end of the same.

A further object is to provide in a closure such as that last described,an impervious hand grip portion on said cam actuating means which is.substantially horizontally disposed in spaced relation to said containerwhen in the closed position, and latch means for securing the closure inthe closed position, said latch means being wholly covered and protectedby said hand grip portion in all positions of the parts.

2,816,684 Patented Dec. 17, 1957 ice Other objects and advantages residein the particular structure of the invention, in the structure anddesign of the several elements forming the same, combinations andsub-combinations of such elements, all of which will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing in connectionwith the following specification wherein the invention is shown,described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1- is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of the inventionapplied to a container, the parts being shown in the open position;

Figure 2 is a like view, the parts being shown in the fully closedposition;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing certain of theparts in a partially closed position;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the actuating and latchmeans of the invention;

Figure 5 is a like view of the closure portion of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a base plate for the closure apartfrom the rest of the structure.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like refer encecharacters designate like parts in all views, 10 designates any suitablecontainer such as the well known military can illustrated and which hasa top wall 11, a carrying handle 12 and an opening 13 in the top wall.The opening 13 is defined by an embossment 14 which mounts a reinforcingsput 15. A vent tube 16 is in communication with the opening 13 throughthe flange of the sput 15 and embossment 14. Preferably, the upperportion of the embossment 14 is outwardly flared to provide beveledclosure seat 17. The embossment 14, outwardly of the upper edge of theseat 17, is downwardly directed to provide a radially outwardly facingannular shoulder 18.

As best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 6, a base plate 20 is formed with acentral opening 21 which closely embraces the aforesaid outwardlydirected annular shoulder 18 on the embossment 14. The undersurface ofthe base plate 20 is complementary to the outer surface of the top wall11 and is fixedly secured thereto in any suitable and well known manneras by welding, riveting or the like, not shown.

The base plate 20 has a rear portion 22 which is upwardly and rearwardlyinclined along the similarly sloped fore portions of the handle 12. Thefree rear edge of the portion 22 is formed with a plurality of spacedhinge ears 23. The base plate 20 has a front portion which is formedwith a pair of holes 24 therethrough, there being a hole 24 on each sideof the central opening 21. The foreparts of the holes 24 are covered byrearwardly opening, hollow cam lugs or latch keepers 25, the purpose ofwhich will be apparent hereinafter.

The next'element of the closure is a closure carrier 26 which is in thenature of a hinge leaf and which is generally complementary in shape tothe base plate 20. Thus, the carrier 26, as best seen in Figure 5,includes an upwardly directed rear portion 27 having a rear edge formedwith spaced hinge cars 28. Such ears are aligned with and straddle orinterfit with the cars 23 of the base plate. Any suitable hinge pin 29connects together the cars 23 and 28 in a well known manner so as tohingedly connect the closure carrier 26 to the base plate 29.

Any suitable closure such as a cap or plug for the opening 13 is carriedby the closure carrier 26. In the embodiment illustrated, the centralportion of the carrier 26 is formed with a hole 30 in which is mounted aclosure plug generally indicated at 31. Plug 31 comprises a cylindricalupper part 32 which has a close fit in the hole 30 and projectsthereabove, It also includes an outwardly flared. lower part 33 whichnotonly limits upward movement of the part 32 in the hole 30 but alsosecures a gasket 34 to the plug so that the gasket 34 sealingly seats onthe gasket seat 17 when the parts are in the closed position, Figure 2.A ring.or'cap..35 Iis'fixedly secured in any suitable.manner,.not.shown,to.the projecting end of the upperpart32rafter; assembly of the plug 31to the carrier 26rso1as to zpreventwithdrawalof the plug fronrthe hole30.:

The front endof the closure carrier 26 is formed with any suitable hingemeans such as the spaced and aligned hinge ears 36 which mount anysuitable connection such as the hingepin 37 wherebyan actuator for th'eplug carrier is hingedly connected to the-latter;

The carrier actuator is generallyxindicate at 38 and1as bestseen-inFigure 4 is of inverted channel configuration. It includesa pairof laterally spaced legs"39"which straddle the carrier 26 andwhlch' haveforward portions formed with aligned holes 40finwhich' are. seated theopposite ends of the hinge pin 37. Forwardly'of 'the.hol'es-40,

the free front ends of the actuator le'gsj39are formed to provide'carns41 which comprise latch dogs when seated in the hollow latch-keeperproviding cam lugs..25

ofthe base plate 20, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

The rear portions 42'of the actuator legs .39 are widened in an upwarddirection and. connected together by an, The.

impervious integral web" 43.:of substantial 'widthh front and rear edgesof the. web 43 may be downwardly extendedas at 44 and 45, respectively,.to provide. eaves for a purpose to be apparent hereinafter.'I'l'ierearlegportions .42fare formed with aligned sockets orholes.

46 for a latch pin 47' of .a latch 48 now to be described! Asbestseenin. Figure 4; the latch 48.-comprises a pair of laterally spacedand. aligned bell crank portions 49 each having an upper-horizontal arm50. and a down. wardly directed vertical arm 51. The outer ends.ofthehorizontal arms 50 are connected together by an integral web ofangular cross section providing a vertical. front.

wall flange 52 and a horizontal floor flange 53, the latter providing afinger piece for actuatingthe latch. The latch:

The lower end of'each vertical crank arm 51-isformed with lower andupper beveled strike engaging surfaces 58 and 59, respectively. Thestrikes comprise the upper edges 56 of latch-keeper providing notches 57formed in the opposite sideedges of the upwardly directed rearportion 27ofthe. closure carrier 20. The upper edges59 of the'latch dogs54-areeach formed with a keeperengaging notch 60 for. securing the dogsin the latched positions. The latch 48 is preferably spring loadedtoward the latched position by any suitable spring such as the U-shapedspring 61 best seen in Fig. 4. Spring ,61 has a bight 62 which partiallyencircles the latch pin 47 and which merges with forwardly directedupper and lower spring arms63. and 64, .respectively, and which bearrespectively against the'web43 of the actuator 38 andthe floor flange53. of thelatch web. If desired and as shown, the arms 63and 64 may haveupwardly and downwardly directed free ends 65v and 66 which seatrespectively in recesses 67 and 68 in the webs 43 and 53 aforesaid.

In operation and with the parts in the open position of Figure 1, itwillbe seen that the carrier and actuator 38 are fully extended to therear-and lie atop the handle 12. They are readily retained in thisposition by one hand of the operatorwhile the can contents are beingpoured out of the opening 13 or they simply rest on. the.

handle 12 while the can is filled through the opening 13.v To close theopening 13, the closure carrieris swung. to.

the Figure 3 positionwhereinthe plug 31 has entered the.

opening 13. but is not quite: seated. At. the same time,..

the actuator 38 is swung on its pivot 37 in a counter- 4. clockwisedirection relative. to the carrier so as to overlie the same. The cams41 are disposed so as to enter the cam lugs or latch keepers 25. Thecontinued movement of the actuator 38 in the counterclockwise directioncams the carrier 20 and plug 31 downwardly until the gasket 34 of thelatter is sealingly engaged with the seat 17.

At about this time the beveled strike engaging surfaces 58, 59 of thelatch dogs 54 have successively engaged the strikes 56 soas to swing thelatch in a counterclockwise direction until the strikes are cleared andthe spring 61 forces the latch dogs 54 into the notches 57 so as toseatthe strikes 56 in the notches 60, as best seen in Figure 2.

To releasev the closure, oneor more fingers are inserted beneath thewebs 43 and 53, and upward pressure on the latch web 53 releases thelatch dogs 54 from the latch keeper-providing strikes 56. The actuator38 may now be pivoted in a clockwise direction until its latchdogproviding cams have been. withdrawn from their latchkeeper-providing-cam lugs 25. The carrier and plug may now be unseatedbyan upward and rearward pull on the actuator 38.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the closure of the invention maybe opened and closed by hand without the exertion of any great strengthand without the need for any, tools. At the same time, it isclear thatthe-domed cam lug-latch keepers 25 provide a sheet metal structure ofmuch greater strength than the usual sheet metal cam lugs. Likewise,their location is such that they. are unlikely to be damaged-in normaluse. Also, the cam-latch dogs. 41 utilize'edge surfaces for greaterstrength and are completely protected in use bybeing-housed in thekeepers 25. Thus, they are unlikely to be deformed or broken.

in normal use. Slight lateral deformation of these cams does not effectthe operation as long as the deformation.

the plane of the floor flange 53 of the latchweb. It is, only necessarythat there be room to insert one or more,

gloved fingers below the. same.v It should be noted. that the'rear eave45' overlaps the free upper edge ofthe.

carrier rear portion. 27 to provide a protecting joint when the partsare.in. the closed. position.

Thus, it follows from the foregoing that the closure'of' the inventionfulfills. all of the objects of the invention and yet provides a closurewhich is readily and cheaply. con structed of sheet metal parts or theequivalent.

Moreover, while Ihave shown and described whatisnow thought to beapreferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that thesame is susceptible of otherforms and expressions. Consequently, it istobe understood that I do not limit myself to the particular. structuresshown and described hereinabove except ashereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:

1. In a closurefor a container having. a wall formed;

with an opening therethrough; the improvement comprising aclosurecarrier and a closure carried thereby, hinge means mounting saidcarrier for movement to and from opened and closed positions, anactuator for said' carrier,

a secondhinge inspaced' parallel relation to said firstnamed hinge meansand hingedly connectingsaid actuator tosaid carrier, at leastoneforwardly directed cam on said actuator, at least one hollow andrearwardly opening-cam; lug on said; wall. forwardly.- of. saidfirst-named hinge. means, said. actuator being. swingable with and,relative.

to said carrier in one direction to a partially closedposition whereinsaid cam is received in saidh'ollow cam lug,

said lug providing a fulcrum for said actuator for camming said carrierto said closed position upon continued movement of said actuator in thesame direction relative to said carrier there being a latch for readilyreleasably securing rear portions of said actuator and carrier togetherwhen the latter is in said closed position, and said actuator includingan inverted channel-shaped portion providing a housing overlying saidlatch and substantially entirely enclosing the same on at least threesides in both said opened and closed positions of said carrier.

2. In a closure for a container having a wall formed with an openingtherethrough and a closure seat associated with said opening; theimprovement comprising a base plate fixed to said wall and surroundingsaid opening, a closure for said opening, a plate-like closure carriermounting said closure centrally thereof, a first hinge hinge meanshingedly connecting said carrier and base plate together rearwardly ofsaid opening, a pair of rearwardly opening cam lugs comprising integralupward extensions of said base plate, said cam lugs being disposed inlaterally spaced and aligned relation on opposite sides of said openingforwardly thereof, an actuator for said carrier, said actuator being aninverted U-shaped member of substantially rigid sheet material andhaving a web and a pair of legs depending from opposite sides of saidweb in straddling relation to said carrier, said legs having forwardextensions terminating in free front ends formed to provide laterallyspaced and aligned latch dog-providing cams which project forwardly ofsaid carrier, a second hinge means rearwardly of said cams hingedlyconnecting said actuator and carrier together for movement to and fromopen and closed positions, said cams being engageable with said cam lugsto provide fulcrums for camming said closure and carrier to a seatedposition upon movement of said actuator in one direction.

3. A closure according to claim 2, wherein said carrier includes anupwardly inclined rear portion having side edges formed with alignednotches providing a second pair of latch keepers, said notches beingclosed by said legs of said actuator when the latter is in said closedposition, a spring latch pivotally mounted on said actuator beneath saidweb thereof, said latch including a pair of laterally spaced and alignedlatch dogs located to engage said second pair of latch keepers uponmovement of said actuator to said closed position, and said latch beingenclosed on all but the front side by said legs and web of said actuatorand said rear portion of said carrier, when said actuator is in saidclosed position.

4. A closure according to claim 3, wherein said web of said actuatorincludes a rearwardly depending eave overlapping said rear portion ofsaid carrier when said actuator is in said closed position.

5. A closure according to claim 4, wherein said web includes a forwardlydepending eave to provide forward protection for said latch.

6. A closure according to claim 5, wherein said latch includes a fingerpiece disposed entirely beneath said web in downwardly spaced relationthereto, and said finger piece being movable upwardly toward said web todisengage said second pair of latch dogs from their keepers.

7. In a closure for a container having a wall formed with an openingtherethrough; the improvement comprising a closure carrier and a closurecarried thereby, hinge means mounting said carrier for movement to andfrom opened and closed positions, an actuator for said carrier, a secondhinge in spaced parallel relation to said firstnamed hinge means andhingedly connecting said actuator to said carrier, at least one forwarddirected cam on said actuator, at least one hollow and rearwardlyopening cam lug on said wall forwardly of said first-named hinge means,said actuator being swingable with and relative to said carrier in onedirection to a partially closed position wherein said cam is received insaid hollow cam lug, said lug providing a fulcrum for said actuator forcamtning said carrier to said closed position upon continued movement ofsaid actuator in the same direction relative to-said carrier, therebeing a latch for readily releasably securing rear portions of saidactuator and carrier together when the latter is in said closedposition, means mounting said latch on said actuator, said carrier beingformed to provide a latch keeper engaging said latch when said carrieris in said closed position to releasably secure said actuator againstmovement relative to said carrier, said actuator including an invertedU-shaped portion providing the roof and sides of a housing for saidlatch, and said carrier including two wall portions which are angula rlydirected relative to each other, and said wall portions cooperating withsaid U-shaped portion to pro vide a door and' a rear wall for saidhousing when said actuator is in the closed position.

8. In a container closure, the combination with a container wall; of abase plate fixed to said wall, said base plate and wall being formedwith aligned holes providing a plug seat, a plug carrier and a plugcarried thereby, a first hinge means at one side of said seat laterallythereof and hingedly connecting said base plate and plug carriertogether for swinging movement of the latter into and out of a positionseating said plug in said seat, said base plate being formed with atleast one latch keeper laterally of said seat and opposite said firsthinge means, an actuator for said plug carrier, a second hinge meanshingedly connecting said actuator and carrier together laterally of saidplug, said actuator having a cam formed thereon in the region of saidsecond hinge means, said cam comprising a latch dog engaging said latchkeeper in one position of said carrier to cam said carrier and plug intosaid seated position, a spring latch on said actuator opposite saidsecond hinge means for readily releasably securing said actuator in aposition holding said plug in said seated position, said spring latchhaving a laterally spaced pair of spring latch dogs, said carrier beingformed with a laterally spaced pair of latch keepers for said springlatch dogs, cooperating means on said actuator and carrier providing ahousing for said spring latch, and said housing having a top, rear andside walls.

9. In a container closure, the combination with a container wall; of abase plate fixed to said wall, said base plate and wall being formedwith aligned holes providing a plug seat, a plug carrier and a plugcarried thereby, a first hinge means hingedly connecting said base plateand plug carrier together for swinging movement of said carrier into andout of a position seating said plug in said seat, said base plate beingformed with a pair of laterally spaced latch keepers, each latch keeperbeing a rearwardly opening hollow domed portion of said base plate, anactuator for said plug carrier, a second hinge means hingedly connectingsaid actuator and carrier together, said actuator having a pair oflaterally spaced cams comprising latch dogs, said latch dogs beinglocated in the region of said second hinge means, said latch dogsengaging and cooperating with said latch keepers in one position of saidcarrier to cam said carrier and plug into a seated position, a latch,means mounting said latch on said actuator in remote relation to saidlatch dogs, a keeper for said latch, said keeper being disposed on saidcarrier in the region of said first-named hinge means,

said actuator including a cover for said latch, and said cover includingtop and side walls together with forwardly and rearwardly dependingeaves protecting said latch.

10. In a cam type closure for a container, the combination with acontainer opening, a hinged closure for said opening; of an actuator forsaid closure, means hinging said actuator to said closure for swingingmovement to and from seated and unseated positions, cooperating cammeans on said container and actuator for camming said closure to aclosed position upon movement of said actuator to said seated position,latch means on said actuator and carrier for releasably securing saidactuator and carrier together in said seated position, said actuatorhaving an inverted'channel shaped portion, said carrier having anupstanding wall. portion; andisa'id channel-shaped portion and'wallportion cooperating in" said' seated jpositionto provide ahousing"substantially*entirely 'enclo'sing said latchmeans.

11. In'a containerclosure, the combination with-a conta'iner wall'havingan opening thereinfoimed-toiarovide a closure seatg'of a closurecarrier-"and aclosure carried thereby, a first hinge meanslaterallyoutwardiy'of said seat hingedly' connecting said "carrier "tosaid container for swingingmo'vementof said closure intoandout of aposition seating said closure'on said seat,""an" actuator for saidclosure carrier, a second hinge =means'hingdly' connecting said actuatoraridicarriertogether laterally 'outwardly of said closure,cooperativecam type1atch"dog and latch dog keeper means onsa'id actuatorand con 'tainerforcamming saidclosure' into said seated position,

'said' carrier'having' an end portion extending away from saidcontainer-wall, said'end portion beingformdwitii at least'one openingtherethrough,-said-"opeiiing providing spring latchkeep'er "means, as'pring latch carrie'd by' 'said actuator, -'said actuator "including'an 'inverted channel shaped portion enclosing said-latch, said spring-lat'ch engagingsaid spring'iatch 'keepermeans-With saidclosure in saidseated position to prevent disengageine'r'it of" said latch dog-andlatch dog keeper means, and-sa'idendportion closing onee'rid or Saidcharmcl-shamed portionwhen the parts are in saidseatd *pos'ition.

References Gitd in the file of thispatent UNITED' STATES PATENTS 195,458,Sejhbld Sept. '25, 1877 2,501,526 LOUCKS M31221, 1950 2,574,836 Marcel'N'ov."13, 1951 2,734,656 SEhOrrfeld Food-4,1956

